Turbine-stator.



F. H-ODGKINSON.

TURBINE STATOR.-

APPLICATION FILED1SEPTI3I1915| Patented Apr. 30, 1918;.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- lN VEN TOR.

HIS ATTORNEY IN FACT F. HODGKINSON.

TURBINE STATOJR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 3, I915.

Patented Apr. 30, 1918.

l I v-- llll IILIIIIIIIIIII IN VE N TOR.

HIS ATTOIQNE Y IN FACT n 'rens ear rice.

' riaanors tronenruson cr rrrrssuaen, rsnnsrrgvawra, essrairon 'ro wesrmanouss V ELECTRIC a ivrauuraorunme ooivrraur, A COREPGRACEION or rnnnsrtvanta.

marina-smarter...

mes es.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A101. an, ieis.

Application filed September 3, 1915. semi ire-eases.

To all whom it may concern:

Ireland, a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsyh Vania, have made a new and useful Tn'vention in Turbine-Stators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to turbines and has for an object to produce improved -means whereby close clearances may be maintained between the rotor and stator elements without the danger er contact due to variations in the relativ positions or the elements.

A further object is to produce means tor preventing relative radial motion or the rotor element of a turbine with relation to the stator element.

These and other objects, which will be made apparent throughout the further, description of the invention, are attained by means of apparatus embodying the features herein illustrated and described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional 'view or the end portion of a turbine equipped with anembodimont or my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental end elevation of the turbine illustrated in Fig. 1, portions being shown in section for convenience of illustration.

In some forms of turbines it is customary to form the bearing support integrally with the turbine stator or casing, and in large turbines there is a tendency for the support to shift its position due to temperature strains in the supporting portion of the stator, or due to the normal strains on the support. This tendency is greatest at the eX- haust end of the turbine because of the neces sity for providing the large exhaust pas sages, the arrangement of which is such that it is (,lll'llCUli) to construct a rigid bearing support Without unduly increasing the weight or that portion of the stator supporting the bearing support. The variations in temperature at the exhaust end of the turbine are also great and this adds to the 'difliculty of producing a-rigid support, and in addition to this the external pressure of the atmosphere on the ver; large exhaust chambers tends to produce eformation.

The more or less specific object or my in vention is to produce simple and eifectite means for bracing the bearing supporting portion or the stator so that the bearing support is held stationary with; relation to the cylindrical portion of the stator, or that portion jivhich encirclesthe rotor. The broad underlying principle of the invention, however, is to increase the rigidity or the structure, so that the bearing support is positively held in place under'varyingstrains and varying temperature conditions. It will apparent that m invention may be employed in connection with the hearing or hearing support "at the high pressure end, or a turbine, and it may be also employed inconneo tion with turbines in which the bearing support is formed separately or the stator.

In the drawings 1 have illustrated the end portion vo-t' a turbine stator 3, which, as illustrated, is divided into an upper and lower section along a horizontal plane passing through the axis of the rotor. The two sections are adapted to be bolted or otherwise secured togethe so that they cooperate in inclosing therotor and also in forminga support for the bearings or the rotor. The casing illustrated is provided with a cylindrical portion t, which surrounds he rotor and on which radial blades (not shown) are mounted. The clearance between this portion of the stator and the workingelements or the rotor is preferably small nd consequently it is desirable, and in fact necessary, to prevent the rotor from moving radially with relation to this portion of the stator, since contact between the rotor elementsand the stator is likely to damage, it it does not wreck, the turbine. l

This portion l of the stator communicates with the exhaust end or the turbine which is enlarged to form an exhaust chainber 5 in direct communication with an exhaust port 6, with which the stator is provided. The end wall 7 of the lower section or the stator and the end wall 8 of the upper section cooperate in supporting a bearing support 9, which is formed integrally with the lower section. The arrangement of the exhaust chamber 5 within the casing necessitates a construction of the bearing support such that its inner end overhangs the supported portion of the end wall 7. While the uppe section of the casing aids somewhat in supporting the bearing support, its form is such, due to the necessity for providing the exhaust chamber 5, that it does not add materially to the rigidity of the support. In order to hold, the support stationary with reand 8 of the lower and upper sections of the I I stator, Inthis way I brace the end walls and increase their rigidity. In addition to this, the braces are so arranged that the portions of the v ndwalls most likely to distort by reason of temperature, normal strains, or atmospheric pressure, are supported in two directions by the cylindrical portion 4:.

As illustrated, each stay bolt 10 and 11 consistsof a tension bolt 12 which is surrounded by a compression sleeve 13. One

end of the bolt is screwed into or otherwise secured to the cylindrical portion 4 and the other end projects through the end wall of thefcasing and is provided with a nut. A

spacer orcompression sleeve 13 surrounds each bolt and is located between bosses formed on the end wall of the stator and the cylindrical portion 4, and is of such length that'it maintains the desired relative positions between the end wall and the cylindrical portion 4 when the nut on bolt, surrounded by it, is tightened. In this way theend wall of the casing is stayed or held rigidly with relation to the cylindrical por- 7 tion 4, and consequently the tendency of the bearing support 9 to shift its position relatively to the cylindrical portion is materially lessened. In the drawings the radially extending braces are provided for the upper section of the casing only, while both the upper and lower sections are provided with the longitudinally extending braces. As

illustrated, theupper section of the casing is also provided with one or more radially extending webs 15, preferably spaced between adjacent stays l0, and thelower sec tion is providedwith a vertical web 16 which is formed integrally with the end wall 7, and extends from the supported portion of that wall upwardly to the overhang mg end of the bearing support 9. The principal feature of the invention, however, is

the bracing of the end walls of the upper and lower sections from the cylindricalportion 4; of the stator for the purpose of in creasing the rigidity of the end walls.

What I claim is: l 1. In combination with the stator of a turbine, a bearing support formed integrally with the stator and stiffening braces located inside of the statorbetween the cylindrical portion of the stator and the portion thereof supporting the bearing support. 7

2. In combination witha turbine stator,

stiffening braces between the cylindrical portion and the portion of the stator supporting the bearing support and means for rigidly securing the upper and lower sections together.

5. In combination with a turbine stator, having an exhaust chamber formed in one end thereof, a bearing support supported by the end portion of the stator, and longitudinally and radially extending stay bolts, between the end portion and the cylindrical portion of the stator.

6. In combination with a turbine stator, comprising a cylindrical portion and an enlarged end portion, radially and longitudinally extending stay bolts between the cylindrical and the end portion of the stator for supporting the end portion of the stator.

7. A turbine stator, comprising a cylindrical portion and an enlarged end portion inclosing an exhaust chamber, said stator being formed in upper and lower sections,

in combination with a bear ng support shell of the exhaust portion of the stator.

9. In combination, a stator of a turbine having a cylindrical blade carrying portion projecting into the exhaust portion of the stator, and stiffening braces and webs between the cylindrical blade carrying portion and the shell of the exhaust portion of the stator.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed'my name this 31st day of August,

FRANCIS HODGKINSON.

I Qopies ofthis patent may be obtained. for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

. fwashington, D. G." 

